SURREY have given themselves an outside chance of forcing victory in their Specsavers County Championship match against Somerset, despite a masterly century by veteran opener Marcus Trescothick at the Oval.

The 40-year-old scored his 59th first-class hundred and provided the main resistance on the third day, which was interrupted for an hour just after lunch when sleet and snow swept over the ground.

Further rain prevented Surrey from beginning their second innings after they had established a lead of 110 by bowling Somerset out for 353.

Trescothick's 127, made in a shade under five hours, was the cornerstone of Somerset's resistance. No one else made it past 50, although useful lower-order contributions from Peter Trego (41), Craig Overton (44) and Lewis Gregory (47 not out) helped their side avoid the follow-on and collect four batting bonus points.

Trescothick, resuming on 68, was soon back into his stride and looked unperturbed by either seam or spin as he took his aggregate to 590 runs from his last five Championship innings. His 45th hundred for Somerset, which he reached with a single off Mark Footitt, left him two behind Viv Richards and four adrift of Harold Gimblett in Somerset's all-time list.

But while Trescothick was making serene progress, life was tough at the other end for the Somerset batsmen. On his way to a second successive five-wicket haul, Ravi Rampaul bowled Chris Rogers via an inside edge and strangled James Hildreth down the leg side in his first spell.

There was also some slow turn out of the rough for Surrey spinners Zafar Ansari and Gareth Batty to exploit.

Ansari's arm ball accounted for Roelof van der Merwe before lunch and Batty bowled well throughout the truncated afternoon session, removing Trescothick with a ball which pitched on middle and hit the top of off stump before ending the innings with the wickets of Jack Leach and Tim Groenewald.

Trescothick had found a reliable ally in Trego and they added 75 either side of lunch before Trego was caught behind half-forward to Rampaul. That was the first of three wickets in three overs.

Trescothick's dismissal came after he had faced 213 balls, hitting 20 fours and a six, and he was quickly followed by Ryan Davies who drove loosely to midwicket.

Somerset were 239 for seven at that stage and in danger of following-on but the depth in their batting was demonstrated by the confident way Gregory and Overton attacked the new ball as they put on 78 in 18 overs either side of tea for the eighth wicket.

Footitt was forced out of the attack in his 21st over after going down clutching his side but Rampaul returned to have Overton superbly caught at extra cover by the diving Ansari.

The West Indian finished with five for 85 to add to the eight wickets he took in Surrey's opening game against Nottinghamshire a fortnight ago but it will need quick runs from his team on the final day to set up the chance of victory.